Okay, books for "beginners"...depends upon how much of a beginner you are and what it is you know or need to know. As a general rule, Bryan Peterson is good--get one of his books. He does a good job explaining key concepts, then applying them practically, his books have lovely photos that illustrate his points and will inspire you. And he's prolific (lots of books, workshops, does video clips for
Adorama TV). So if you like one of his books, you know you can buy some of his other stuff on other topics and be happy--it won't be a gamble for you (like buying an unknown author). Another good tip for a beginner is to buy a book about your camera body. Yes, read your manual. But it will probably bore you to tears. Once you've forced yourself through the manual, pick up a book by an independent publisher about your specific camera body. You'll get different insights, it will be more readable and better illustrated. I also like Michael Freeman's work. And he's also very prolific as a writer.
For post-production, if you aren't looking to learn how to use a specific software package, then I suggest instead you look at books on composition. They will cover things like how to compose a shot effectively as well as how to tweak it. If you know composition well then (assuming you learn the software), your post-production work will have a specific vision that you go for, clear guidelines that you chose to apply at the right time.